Textile drafting arrangement



March 28, 1967 B. PITTS ETAL TEXTILE DRAFTING ARRANGEMENT 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Jan. 29, 1962 TORS TH ARTHE N NT mmw March 28, 1967 B. PITTS ETAL TEXTILE DRAFTING ARRANGEMENT 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Jan. 29, 1962 INVENTORS 80 B B Y L PITTS WALTER A S M ITH P WART HEN 7g ATTOR N EY FIG-6 March 28, 1967 B. PlTTS ETAL TEXTILE DRAFT ING ARRANGEMENT Original Filed Jan. 29, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 F/Gr?" control path of the apron.

United States Patent C 3,310,845 TEXTILE DRAFTING ARRANGEMENT Bobby L. Pitts, Spartanhurg, Walter A. Smith, Inman, and William P. Warthen, Spartanburg, 5.13., assignors to Deering Milliken Research Corporation, Spartanburg, S.C., a corporation of Delaware (Iontinnation of appiication $81. No. 169,281, Jan. 29, 1962. This application Jniy 17, 1964, Ser. No. 384,286 13 Claims. (Cl. 19245) This application is a continuation of our prior copending application Ser. No. 169,281, filed Jan. 29, 1962, now abandoned.

This invention relates to an improved textile fiber handling arrangement, and more particularly to an improved drafting or drawing arrangement of the apron type in which there is effected both apron and roll clearing or cleaning action, as well as apron guiding action, particularly in the fiber-control zone of the apron travel.

It is a feature of the present invention to provide a unique and improved cradle assembly for an apron type drafting arrangement which permits the quick and easy assembly and disassembly of the component parts thereof, while accomplishing the composite functions of apron and roll clearing or cleaning and apron guiding along the fiber- Particularly, the invention according to this feature incorporates a basically two-piece cradle incorporating roll-and-apron-clearing and apronguiding functions. The two basic pieces may be interlocked, as through the medium of a separable pin or pins, or may be self-interlocked together, the latter em bodiment being preferred.

The present invention obviates the necessity for a conventional cradle, serving all of the functions of the conventional cradle, while also providing both apron-guidingand-positioning functions together with aprn-and-rollclearing-or-cleaning functions.

Still other features and attendant advantages will become apparent to those skilled in the art from a reading of the following detailed description of several physical embodiments constructed in accordance with the invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a drafting arrangement incorporating the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a longitudinal section view of the arrangement of FIGURE 1, showing the passage of fibers through the drafting zone.

FIGURE 3 is an exploded view in perspective of the apron-guiding-and-clearing and roll-clearing cradle arrangement of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 1, illustrating a modified embodiment according to the invention.

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of a further modification according to the invention.

FIGURE 6 is an exploded view of the apron-guidingand-clearing and roll-clearing cradle assembly of FIG- URE 5.

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of a further modification according to the invention, and illustrating two sideby-side spinning positions.

FIGURE 8 is an exploded view of a further modification according to the invention and incorporating a snaptogether apron-clearing-and-positioning and roll-clearing cradle assembly of a preferred construction.

FIGURE 9 is a section view of the cradle assembly of FIGURE 8 with aprons in place thereon, and without textile fibers passing therethrough.

Referring now in detail to the figures of the drawing, in FIGURES 1 and 2 there is illustrated a drafting arrange ment incorporating back, middle and front pairs of rolls 11, 13, 15, 17, 19 and 21. Each of the succeeding pairs of rolls is driven at a progressively faster rate, as is conventional in the art, in order to obtain the desired degree of drafting of the fiber mass F. Any one or more of the rolls 11-21 may, if desired be fluted, knurled, or smooth, as may be desired. The middle pair of drafting rolls 15, 1'7 has associated therewith as in conventional practice a pair of fiber-control aprons 23, 25 which have a nose end extending toward and closely adjacent to the front pair of rolls 19, 21.

The aprons 23, 25 are guided along their respective paths of travel through the medium of an improved cradle assembly 27, 29, 31, which not only serves the function of guiding the nose end of the aprons, but also serves to clear or clean the inner surface of each of the aprons and the outer contacted surface of the respective rolls 15, 17, as well as maintaining the aprons against undesired wandering lateral movement on their rolls 15, 17. To this end, the improved cradle assembly includes two separable apron-guiding and apron-and-roll-clearing elements 27, 29 which are removably secured together through the medium of a pin 31 which extends through complementary apertures 29b in side ears 29a on the ele ment 29 and a complementary bore 27b formed in the element 27. By effecting a fairly snug fit of the pin 31 in the apertures 29b and bore 271) the pin may be maintained in position solely by its frictional contact in these openings.

Each of the two elements 27, 29 has a tapered smaller end 27d, 29d, respectively, which serves to guide the respective apron 23, 25 in the zone of travel of the aprons adjacent the front rolls 19, 21, replacing the conventional nose bar employed in conventional cradle assemblies at this point. Also, each of the elements 27, 29 has at its opposite end a roll-engaging and rubbing surface 27c, 29], which is preferably concave, and which serves to rub clean the contacted peripheral surface of the respective roll 15, 17 which rubs thereagainst during rotation of the rolls. The intermediate interfacing surfaces 27a and 29c of the two elements 27, 2? serve to guide the respective fiber-engaging runs of the two aprons 23, 25 in order to provide better control of the aprons along this important fiber-control path of each apron, as well as serving the dual function of cleaning or clearing the interior surface of the aprons by the rubbing action of the respective aprons on these surfaces. The return path of each apron to the respective one of rolls 15, 17, is effected over a further apron-guiding and rubbing surface 27], 29k formed on each of the respective elements 27, 29, which further aid in removing from the apron lint or foreign matter, and keeping such from getting onto the apron, along this return path thereof to the rolls. The ears 29a on the element 29 serve the dual function of providing a facile means for connecting the two elements 27, 29, and guiding the aprons 23, 25 against material lateral movement during the operation of the apparatus. In order to maintain the assembly 27, 29, 31 in the desired laterally centered position on their respective rolls 15, 17, one of the elements 27, 29, and preferably the element 29, may be provided with shoulders 29g on both lateral sides of the concave roll-engaging-and-clearing surface 29 which shoulders 29g engage the opposite longitudinal earners '2 a ends of the upper roll 17 in a sufiiciently free fit to permit free rotational movement of the roll i7 between the shoulders and along the surface 22f, while preventing any material degree of lateral movement of the element 29 relative to the roll 17. It will be appreciated that by preventing lateral movement of the element 29 the element 27 is likewise held in substantially fixed lateral position through the medium of the ears 29a on the element 29.

The desired extent of opening between the interfacing surfaces 27a and 290 of the two elements 27, 2? in order to provide the desired opening for the passage of fibers between the aprons along their fiber-control runs is determined by the position of the apertures 29b in the ears 29a and the bore 27b in the element 27. If desired, more than one opening may be provided in either the ears or the element 27 in order to provide for adjustment of the spacing between the two interfacing surfaces 27a and 29c.

While such is not absolutely necessary, it has been found desirable and preferable to chamfer or curve back slightly, as indicated at 291, one or both of the elements 29 and 27 adjacent the respective roll engaging therewith, in order to permit the more easy passage of abrupt variations in fiber mass without causing undue breakage of the fiber mass.

In FIGURE 4 there is illustrated a modification of the invention, in which the lower element 27 is identical to that of FIGURES l-3. The upper element 129 is identical to that of element 29 of FIGURES 1-3 except for the substitution of two opposite removable side ears 12911 for the integral side ears of FIGURES 1-3. The removable side ears 1290 may be suitably secured to the upper element 129 as through the medium of screws 13th As in FIGURES l-3, the two elements 27 and 129 are maintained in the desired position with respect to one another and in the drafting assembly through the medium of a pin 31 which extends through complementary apertures in the separable ears 129a and a bore 27b in the element 27.

In FIGURES and 6 there is shown a further modification of the invention, in which the pin 31 is eliminated and the side ears themselves serve to provide the desired interlocking connection for the two guiding and clearing elements 227, 229. To this end, the elements 227, 229 are similar to the elements 27, 29 of FIGURES 1-3 in all respects except for the side ears 22% of the element 229 and the complementary receiving portions 227k of the element 227, as well as the lateral widening of the element 227 to accommodate the insertion in the complementary recesses 2271) of the complementary portions of side ears 22%. The lower curved foot portion of the ears 229a is of oval shape, and fits within a corresponding oval shaped complementary recess 227!) formed in each of the lateral sides of the element 227. By making this foot portion of the ears 22% oval or no-ncircular shaped in this manner it will be seen that the two elements 227 and 229 are thus locked together upon engaging the ears 229a with the openings 227i; and rocking of the two elements to their final running position with respect to one another. Likewise, this locking together of the two elements 227, 229 effects the desired separation of the two interlacing surfaces thereof along which the fiber-control runs of the aprons are passed. Disengagement of the two elements 227, 229 from one another is effected by rocking the two elements together at their nose portions and sliding of the ears 22% out of the socket recesses 227b, whereas connection of the two elements together is effected by inserting the ears 229a and socket recesses 2271) while the two elements are close together at their nose ends and are more widely separated at their roll-engaging ends, and then rocking the two elements apart at their nose ends to thus lock them together and establish their normal seated relation. It will be appreciated that there must be some degree of play or freedom and tolerance between the aprons, 23, 25, and the rolls 15, 17 and elements 227, 229 in order to permit this rocking motion. Such movement is easily accommodated by the otherwise required degree of extra apron length, and consequent tolerance between the apron and its supporting and guiding elements 15, 227, and 17, 229, in order to permit proper free travel of the apron Without undue and undesirable retarding thereof during operation. In other words, the rocking motion necessary for the assembling and disassembling the modification of FIGURES 5 and 6 necessitates no more clearance and apron tolerance with respect to the rolls 15, 17 and elements 227, 229 than is otherwise necessary for satisfactory operation of the arrangements of FIGURES 1-3 and 4.

In FIGURE 7 there is illustrated a further modification which is similar to that of FIGURES 1-3 in that the two elements 329 and 327 are connected together through the medium of a pin 331 which passes through side ears 329a integral with the element 329. However, in this embodiment the guide shoulders 29g of FIGURES 1-3 are eliminated and in lieu thereof the connecting pin 331 is adapted in conjunction with further apparatus to effect the desired lateral positioning of the assembly with respect to the respective rolls 15, 17 and the longitudinal line of travel of the fiber mass through the drafting assembly. In this embodiment, the pin 331 is common to two side-by-side drafting positions, and serves to connect two sets of elements 327, 329 together in the same manner as in the FIGURES ]3. Further, the connecting pin 331 has a bend 331a therein intermediate the two side-by-side sets of elements 327, 329, which bend is engaged by the hold-down anchor 343 of the roll holddown and weighting assembly generally indicated at 341. As in conventional practice, the hold-down anchor 343 is connected between an upper hold-down arm 345 and a weighting lever 347 which is anchored at one end as through a screw anchor 349 and is adjustably weighted at the opposite end as by a weight W. Insofar as this embodiment is concerned, the major importance of the hold-down assembly lies in the provision of external means in the form of the anchor 343, which serves to impart lateral stability to the pin 331 and thereby to impart lateral stability to the assemblies 327, 329 and 331 and each of the two drafting assemblies associated therewith.

In FIGURE 8 a further modified embodiment is illustrated, which incorporates the features of including only two elements which are capable of being quickly and easily snapped together and taken apart and which effect all of the guiding and clearing functions of each of the other embodiments as described above.

In this embodiment the lower element 427 has small nodules or detents 42715 formed on its opposite lateral sides, which are engageable in removable locking relation with corresponding socket recesses 42911 formed on the interfacing surfaces of the cars 42% of the upper element 429. Preferably, grooved guideways 429bb are formed on these ears in order to provide for more facile entry and exit of the detents or nodules with respect to the socket recesses 42%. In order to provide for exact positioning of the two interfacing surfaces 427a and 429C which serve to guide and clear the respective fibercontrol runs of the aprons 23 and 25, the two elements 427 and 429 are preferably provided with complementary interengaging shoulders 427m, 429m. Thus, these inter engaging shoulders 427m, 429m, in conjunction with the interengagement of the detents 427k and socket recesses 4291) serve both to establish a spacing between the surface 427a and 4290 and also to maintain the two surfaces, during operation, against any material undesired rocking motion of the two elements about the pivot points formed by the socket recesses 42912. In some instances it may be desirable to provide for some small degree of rocking motion, in which case a corresponding clearance may be provided between the shoulders or other position-establishing means 427m, 429m.

In order further to provide for more easy separation of the two elements 427, 429 the two shoulders 427m are preferably chamfered at their front ends as indicated at 427:1, to provide effective cam surfaces, each of which interacts with the adjacent portion of the respective shoulder 429m to impart a spreading action to the ears 429 upon rocking of the two elements 427, 429 about the pivot point formed by the detents 42% and sockets 4291; such that the nose ends thereof are moved toward one another and the roll-engaging ends are moved apart. This manual rocking action thus spreads the ears 429a slightly apart and releases detents 427b from the socket recesses 429b, permitting easy withdrawal of the element 427 by passage of the detent along the grooves 429bb. It will be appreciated that the necessary degree of freedom of the apron about the two elements 427 and 429 likewise permits this small degree of pivoting or rocking movement of these elements and sliding movement with respect to one another in order to accomplish the separation and assembly of the elements While the aprons are disposed thereabout. As in FIGURES 13 the upper element 429, or if desired the lower element 427, is provided with the side shoulders 429g for maintaining the assembly in the desired laterally centered relation with respect to its associated rolls 15, 17. There are also provided side shoulders 42911 for aiding in the guidance of the apron 25. Similar apron-guiding shoulders may be provided on both elements if desired, both in this and the preceding embodiments, the lower portion of the ears 4290 serving to guide the bottom apron 23 in this embodiment.

While the invention has been described with respect to several physical embodiments constructed in accordance therewith, it Will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications and improvements may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited by the particular illustrative embodiments illustrated and described herein, but only by the scope of the appended claims.

That which is claimed is:

1. A drafting apron cradle assembly comprising an apron-'and-roll-clearing member adapted to engage in rubbing and guiding relation with the inner surface of an apron carried thereabout, said element having a concave roll-engaging surface at one end thereof having sufiicient width to contact and clear substantially the full width of the apron carrying portion of a drafting roll and a tapered reduced size opposite nose, and an apron-run-clearingand-guiding surface disposed between said one end and said nose, and a second eiement having an apron-runclearing-and-guiding surface facing and spaced from said apron-run-engaging-and-guiding surface on said first men tioned element, said elements being removably connected together in substantially fixed interspatial relationship, and side ear connectors integral with at least one of said elements and interconnecting said elements, said side ear connectors also acting as lateral apron guides.

2. A drafting arrangement according to claim 1 wherein said second element has a roll-clearing surface disposed adjacent said apron-mn-clearing-and-guiding surface.

3. A drafting cradle arrangement according to claim 2 wherein said second element includes a tapered reduced size apron-guiding nose spaced from said roll-clearing surface.

4. A drafting arrangement comprising two nip rolls, two interfacing fiber-control aprons disposed each about a respective one of said rolls and extending transversely therefrom to form interfacing fiber-control runs, each of said aprons having a clearing-and-guiding element disposed therewithin, each of said clearing-and-guiding elements having a roll-engaging surface engaging in clearing relationship with substantially the entire apron carrying width of the peripheral surface of its respective roll, a

nose spaced from said roll-engaging surface, and an apron-run-clearing-and-guiding surface disposed between said roll-engaging surface and said nose, said apron-runclearing-and-guiding surfaces being spaced apart and facing toward one another and each being in apron-rubbingand-guiding relation with its respective said interfacing fiber-control runs, said elements being removably con nected together in substantially fixed interspatial relationship, said clearing-and-guiding elements being supported substantially entirely by said aprons which are carried by said rolls.

5. A drafting arrangement according to claim 4 including side ear connectors integral with at least one of said elements and interconnecting said elements, and said side ear connectors also acting as lateral apron guides.

6. An arrangement according to claim 5 including complementary detent and socket recess connections formed on the interfacing surfaces of said side ear connectors and the adjacent side wall surfaces of the respective other of said elements.

7. An arrangement according to claim 5 including a connecting pin, said elements having aligned apertures formed therein with said connecting pin projecting through said aligned apertures.

8. A drafting arrangement according to claim 4 Wherein one of said elements has spaced apart side shoulders engaging with its respective roll to said in lateral alignment of said elements relative to said rolls.

9. A textile drafting arrangement comprising two sideby-side drafting positions for handling two individual fiber masses, each of said drafting positions comprising a fiber control continuous apron and a nip roll disposed within said apron, two apron-guiding and roll-and-apronclearing members each disposed within its respective said apron and in clearing engagement with its respective said apron and substantially the entire apron carrying surface of its respective roll and having a surface in apron-guiding relation with one run of its respective said apron, connecting means between said two members, and means for inhibiting lateral side-to-side movement of said connecting means and said members.

10. An arrangement according to claim 9 wherein each of said drafting positions includes a pair of apron-guiding and roll-and-apron-clearing members interconnected to one another, each of said pairs having its respective said apron-guiding surface facing one another and spaced apart to permit apron and fiber passage therebetween.

11. A drafting apron cradle assembly comprising an apron-and-roll-clearing member adapted to engage in rubbing and guiding relation with the inner surface of an apron carried thereabout, said element having a rollengaging surface at one end thereof having sufficient width to contact and clear substantially the full width of the apron carrying portion of an apron carrying roll and a tapered reduced size opposite nose, and an apron-runclearing-and-guiding surface disposed between said one end and said nose, and a second element having an apronrun-clearing-and-guiding surface spaced from said apronrun-engaging-and-guiding surface on said first mentioned element, said elements being removably connected together in substantially fixed interspatial relationship, and side ear connectors integral with at least one of said elements and interconnecting said elements, said ears also acting as lateral apron guides.

12. A drafting-apron-guidingand-clearing assembly comprising a pair of apron-clearing-and-guiding elements, one of said elements having a pair of side ears extending therefrom and laterally enveloping an adjacent portion of the other of said elements, means for connecting said elements through said ears, one of said apron-clearingand-guiding elements being an apron-and-roll-clearing member adapted to engage in rubbing relation the interior surface of an apron, said one element having a roll-engaging surface which if of sufficient width to contact and clear substantially the full width of the apron 7 25 carrying portion of an apron carrying roll and a tapered 2,132,299 10/1938 Jackson 19253 reduced size opposite nose spaced therefrom, and an 2,179,078 11/ 1939 Allwood 19-256 apron-run-engaging portion disposed between said roll- 2,206,432 7/1940 Schofield 19255 engaging surface and said nose. 2,777,168 1/1957 Noguera l9-253 13. An assembly according to claim 12 wherein said 5 2,899,714 8/1959 Noguera 19--255 one element is a block having a concave roll-engaging surface at one end andsaid tapered nose and spaced from FOREIGN PATENTS said one end, and having upper and lower apron-engag- 12/1940 Great Britaining mutually inclined surfaces connecting between said 792,404 1/1954 Gfiat Britainconcave end and said tapered nose end. 1

MERVIN STEIN, Przmary Examiner.

References Cited by the Examiner DONALD PARKER, Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS D. NEWTON, Assistant Examiner.

2,100,139 11/1937 Honda 19255 

1. A DRAFTING APRON CRADLE ASSEMBLY COMPRISING AN APRON-AND-ROLL-CLEARING MEMBER ADAPTED TO ENGAGE IN RUBBING AND GUIDING RELATION WITH THE INNER SURFACE OF AN APRON CARRIED THEREABOUT, SAID ELEMENT HAVING A CONCAVE ROLL-ENGAGING SURFACE AT ONE END THEREOF HAVING SUFFICIENT WIDTH TO CONTACT AND CLEAR SUBSTANTIALLY THE FULL WIDTH OF THE APRON CARRYING PORTION OF A DRAFTING ROLL AND A TAPERED REDUCED SIZE OPPOSITE NOSE, AND AN APRON-RUN-CLEARINGAND-GUIDING SURFACE DISPOSED BETWEEN SAID ONE END AND SAID NOSE, AND A SECOND ELEMENT HAVING AN APRON-RUNCLEARING-AND-GUIDING SURFACE FACING AND SPACED FROM SAID APRON-RUN-ENGAGING-AND-GUIDING SURFACE ON SAID FIRST MENTIONED ELEMENT, SAID ELEMENTS BEING REMOVABLY CONNECTED TOGETHER IN SUBSTANTIALLY FIXED INTERSPATIAL RELATIONSHIP AND SIDE EAR CONNECTORS INTEGRAL WITH AT LEAST ONE OF SAID ELEMENTS AND INTERCONNECTING SAID ELEMENTS, SAID SIDE EAR CONNECTORS ALSO ACTING AS LATERAL APRON GUIDES. 